GIRLS
Emma Kate Holdbrooks recently signed with the University of Southern Mississippi
This year the top two athletes heading in to the state meet in 3A are Winfield's Emma Kate Holdbrooks and TR Miller's Allie Nelson. Holdbrooks leads 3A with a 19:00 at Jesse Owens with Nelson only 2 seconds behind her. Cottage Hill Christian's Caroline Cumbest will be up front as well.
Pleasant Valley after pulling off the win at sectionals.
The team competition is led by surprise standout Pleasant Valley. These girls are YOUNG up front....and were completely off the radar early on until they beat Montgomery Academy at the Scottsboro Invitational. Led by 7th grader Trinity Roberts and 8th grader Emma Hood, the team is poised for a 3A title this year. A battle for second place will be between Montgomery Academy and American Christian Academy -- although either one of these teams has the ability to surprise us by pulling off the win.
BOYS
Individually this is an interesting race. Mack VanWagnen currently leads 3A but ran in the 18min range at sectionals. I don't have much information on why this happened....but it did -- update -- VanWagnen has a leg injury and is in a boot. Nick Klein (Winfield), Ash Midyett (Bayside), and Noah Karr (ACA) are all with in striking distance to take the title. If I had to pick one, my money is on Klein.
On the team front, the clear team to be is American Christian Academy. Led by senior Noah Karr, the ACA squad is among the best in the state across all classifications. The real contest might be the battle for 2nd place between Montgomery Academy and Cottage Hill Christian.